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Residents of the US and its territories only. See full disclosure for details. *Bonus Cash Rewards Offer. You will qualify for $200 bonus cash rewards if you use your new credit card account to make any combination of purchase transactions totaling at least $1,000 (exclusive of any fees, returns and adjustments) that post to your account within 90 days of the account open date. Limit 1 bonus cash rewards offer per new account. This one-time promotion is limited to customers opening a new account in response to this offer and will not apply to requests to convert existing accounts. Your account must be open with active charging privileges in order to receive this offer. Other advertised promotional bonus cash rewards offers can vary from this promotion and may not be substituted. Allow 8–12 weeks from qualifying for the bonus cash rewards to post to your rewards balance. The value of this reward may constitute taxable income to you. You may be issued an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) that reflects the value of such reward. Please consult your tax advisor, as neither we, nor our affiliates, provide tax advice. 1 Mobile Banking. Mobile Banking requires that you download the Mobile Banking app and is only available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

On Mission

As we begin a new academic year, it’s thrilling to prepare for many of the activities that make the University of Missouri an extraordinary place. Every day we’re working together in our labs and classrooms to grow our mission of learning, research and engagement. In short, it’s great to welcome back our Tigers.

With so much energy around campus, it’s fitting that we’re also embarking on a new era of discovery at Mizzou. In October, we’ll celebrate the long-awaited opening of the NextGen Precision Health building. The stunning facility is full of incredible tools that will help faculty, data scientists, industry partners and so many others build the future of health care right in the heart of Missouri. It joins our other world-class facilities, such as the MU Research Reactor — the most powerful of its kind in the United States — as a testament to Mizzou’s ongoing commitment to and investment in research excellence.

Along with industry-leading resources, it also takes talented faculty to drive innovation. It requires a bold, creative team with many different perspectives who have access to tools equal to the demands of groundbreaking research. The word is already out: Mizzou offers that special combination of resources and a commitment to cross-disciplinary engagement that make it the perfect place to find solutions to the challenges we all face.

We have recruited some of the best researchers and are including new faculty with a wide array of expertise to bring to the NextGen table. Together, they will be at the forefront of addressing critical issues such as substance use disorder and rural health disparities. In the following pages, you’ll meet a few of them and learn how the knowledge they bring in areas such as population health and microbial-based cancer therapy will benefit Missourians and save lives.

For these researchers, NextGen is a rare opportunity to work with the latest equipment, such as advanced imaging instruments from Thermo Fisher Scientific and Siemens Healthineers. For our university community, it’s a chance to supercharge our impact, provide more opportunities to students and even better fulfill our role as Missouri’s flagship land-grant university. We’re creating an environment primed for collaboration and innovation. It’s clear why so many world-renowned specialists are excited to join us.

The NextGen initiative brings together a community of people spread across disciplines, universities and our campus family, working together for the good of everyone. Your support as alumni is a critical piece of that puzzle. We value your help championing our lifesaving work in precision health and spreading the message that Mizzou is a driving force of revolutionary research in the Midwest. Because when we bring together the right people in the right place with the right tools, we can save lives and make Missouri a dynamic hub of expertise — a place unlike anywhere else in the world.

Editorial and Advertising Mizzou Alumni Association 123 Reynolds Alumni Center 704 Conley Avenue Columbia, MO 65211 phone: 573-882-6611 mizzou@missouri.edu executive editor Ashley Burden managing editor Dale Smith art director Blake Dinsdale class notes editor Jennifer Manning editor emerita Karen Worley advertising Scott Dahl: 573-882-2374

Mizzou Alumni Association 123 Reynolds Alumni Center Columbia, MO 65211 phone: 573-882-6611, fax: 573-882-5145 executive director, publisher Todd A. McCubbin, M Ed ’95

Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of the University of Missouri or the Mizzou Alumni Association. ©2021

Statements of Purpose The Mizzou Alumni Association proudly supports the best interests and traditions of Missouri’s flagship university and its alumni worldwide. Lifelong relationships are the foundation of our support. These relationships are enhanced through advocacy, communication and volunteerism.

MIZZOU magazine reports credible and engaging news about the University of Missouri community to a global audience.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Sabrina McDonnell, MBA ’15 • President-elect Jeff Vogel, BS Acc ’90 • Immediate Past President Robin Wenneker, BS BA ’91 • Treasurer John Gamble, BS ’00 • Secretary Todd McCubbin, M Ed ’95 • Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair Joe Valenciano, BA ’95 • Directors Cristin Blunt, BS Ed ’02; Renita Duncan, BS Acc ’08, M Acc ’08; Pete Ferretti, BA ’93; Matt Jenne, BS CiE ’97, MBA ’15; Chuck Kaiser, BA, BJ ’93; Derek Kessen, BS BA ’05; Emily Kueker, BS ’02; Christine Mathews, BS BA ’10, MBA ’17; Mindy Mazur, BA ’99; Craig Moeller, BS ’93; Ellie Preslar, BS BE ’04; Martin Rucker, BS ’07; Mark Russell, BJ ’84; Jim Simmons, BS ’93, MD ’98; Dawn Smith-Popielski, BA ’96; David Townsend, JD ’00; Janet Wheatley, BS HE ’77 • Student Representative Cade Koehly

MIZZOU magazine Fall 2021, Volume 110, Number 1 Published triannually by the Mizzou Alumni Association

MORE MIZZOU ONLINE

Who’s Your Favorite Rocker? View a slideshow of concert posters and fine art by Chuck Sperry, Journ ’84, at tinyurl.com/sperryposters.

CONTRIBUTORS

Steve Wiegenstein, BJ ’76, MA ’82, PhD ’87, is a 2021 PEN/ Faulkner finalist for his short story collection, Scattered Lights. His essay for MIZZOU magazine looks at life from the vantage of a canoe on a Missouri stream. Pages 14, 16. Bill Tammeus, BJ ’67, was a member of the Kansas City Star staff that won a 1982 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting. He offers sober but hopeful advice for avoiding another 9/11. Page 64.

Tony Rehagen, BA, BJ ’01, has written for GQ, The Columbia Journalism Review and Next Wave: America’s New Generation of Great Literary Journalists. He profiles Tiger quarterback Connor Bazelak. Page 40. Justin Heckert, BJ ’02, a native of Missouri’s bootheel, has written for ESPN, The Ringer, The New York Times Magazine, GQ, Esquire and Atlanta Magazine. He profiles gig poster master artist Chuck Sperry, Journ ’84. Page 32.

About the cover

Although Steve Wiegenstein’s short stories have made him a national literary figure, he’s always floated Missouri’s rivers and streams like a local expert. Check out the essay he wrote about life and floating for MIZZOU magazine. Pages 14, 16. Photo by Robert Llewellyn facebook.com/mizzou

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Departments

1First Look

Legendary poster artist Chuck Sperry, Journ ’84, created a piece of art just for MIZZOU magazine. We profile him on Page 32.

6Around the Columns

Researchers map the bird genome and help build a better career guidance tool, while alumni open a woodworking makerspace and a lavender farm.

48 Mizzou Alumni News

Say hello to the Mizzou Alumni Association’s new volunteer president, Sabrina McDonnell, MBA ’15, and tune in to Entertainment Tonight’s new host, Nischelle Turner, BJ ’98.

49 Class Notes

Alumni dish on their latest anniversaries, jobs, weddings and babies.

53 Alumni Bookshelf

Mizzou graduates crank out the volumes.

64

Semper Mizzou

The tragedy of 9/11 was personal for Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist Bill Tammeus, BJ ’67. Here’s his advice for avoiding another disaster like it.

Council for Advancement & Support of Education (CASE) Awards 2021: Gold, Feature Writing (“Who Was I in College?,” Winter 2020); 2020: Bronze, Feature Writing (“Forever Young,” Spring 2019); 2019: Bronze, General Interest Magazine

Society for Publication Designers (SPD) Awards 2021 merit awards “Eli’s Calling,” Fall 2020 “A Third Act,” Spring 2020

Features

Known for his iconic rock posters, Chuck Sperry, Journ ’84, cites MU art Professor Frank Stack as an early influence.

His Moment

Being a finalist for the 2021 PEN/Faulkner literary award puts Steve Wiegenstein on a literary A-list with the likes of John Updike, Cynthia Ozick and Bobbie Ann Mason. by tony rehagen, ba, bj ’01

Same River Twice

Award-winning fiction writer Steve Wiegenstein has spent a lifetime cherishing the beauty of Missouri’s rivers and streams. Read his sparkling essay about life and floating. by steve wiegenstein, bj ’76, ma ’82, phd ’87 pen/faulkner finalist, 2021

26 30

NextGen Talent

A new approach to hiring marshals multiple researchers around real-world problems. by david lagesse, bj ’79

Harpo’s Hits 50

Detailing the appeal of the classic college town bar. by aaron mermelstein, bj ’72

32

From Concert Halls to Museum Walls

Chuck Sperry’s posters have delivered audiences to concert venues of some of the world’s most famous rock bands. by justin heckert, bj ’02

24 How Nurses Elevate Eldercare Highly trained nurses improve the care of seniors and save money in the process, according to a new study. But will insurance regulations allow this model to flourish? by nancy yang, ma ’83

40

QB1

Quarterback Connor Bazelak did his due diligence, waited for his chance. Now it’s his turn to lead the Tiger offense. by tony rehagen, ba, bj ’01